Jobs that pay the biggest premium in Altoona, PA

Each occupation's median wage in Altoona, PA compared against the national median for the same occupation. Unlike a cost-of-living adjustment — which scales every job in a state by the same constant and so cannot change their order — this genuinely re-ranks, and it shows where Altoona, PA pays a real premium. Limited to occupations with at least 1,000 workers in the state.

Cost of living: prices in Altoona, PA run 10.5% below the national average (2024), so a Altoona, PA salary is worth about 1.12× its face value in national terms. That scales every wage here by the same factor — it changes what the numbers mean, not their order.

Local wage estimates are suppressed more often than state ones — BLS withholds any figure too few local employers report — so an occupation missing here simply has no published local estimate.

Wages: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Cost of living: BEA regional price parities, 2024

Find high paying jobs in Altoona, PA

OccupationMedian, Altoona, PA · vs. national

1Brickmasons and Blockmasons$92,010
High school diploma or equivalent
$51,790 – $126,660+48.1%
2Crossing Guards and Flaggers$52,030
No formal educational credential
$24,080 – $54,420+36.6%
3Personal Financial Advisors$125,820
Bachelor's degree
$57,480 – $300,870+19.7%
4Real Estate Sales Agents$61,910
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,940 – $95,420+17.2%
5Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical Education$74,730
Bachelor's degree
$51,080 – $94,410+16.1%
6Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators$57,450
High school diploma or equivalent
$37,580 – $60,470+13.3%
7Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All Other$56,160
Bachelor's degree
$18,210 – $56,160+10.4%
8Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic$52,080
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,650 – $52,080+10.4%
9Postal Service Clerks$68,540
No formal educational credential
$61,050 – $75,030+10.3%
10Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System Operators$65,110
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,590 – $65,110+8.5%
11Merchandise Displayers and Window Trimmers$41,890
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,660 – $46,160+6.3%
12Physicians, All Other$279,160
Doctoral or professional degree
$67,680 – $459,510+5.0%
13Architectural and Civil Drafters$68,230
Associate's degree
$45,440 – $90,820+3.1%
14Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$49,690
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,740 – $66,500+3.0%
15Instructional Coordinators$78,960
Master's degree
$40,150 – $84,270+2.0%
16Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs$55,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$47,740 – $67,370+1.9%
17Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators$78,850
High school diploma or equivalent
$49,940 – $106,330+1.1%
18Substitute Teachers, Short-Term$42,060
Bachelor's degree
$25,180 – $42,320+0.9%
19Dietitians and Nutritionists$76,920
Bachelor's degree
$51,460 – $103,380+0.7%
20Data Entry Keyers$41,600
High school diploma or equivalent
$31,430 – $51,120+0.6%
21Tire Repairers and Changers$37,900
High school diploma or equivalent
$29,340 – $45,600+0.5%
22First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction Workers$80,220
High school diploma or equivalent
$53,810 – $114,940+0.4%
23Rehabilitation Counselors$46,610
Master's degree
$35,720 – $76,940-0.5%
24Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing$43,000
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,380 – $48,370-0.9%
25Coaches and Scouts$46,730
Bachelor's degree
$19,250 – $103,000-1.2%
26Radiologic Technologists and Technicians$78,700
Associate's degree
$52,180 – $92,080-1.8%
27Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators$57,430
No formal educational credential
$48,880 – $75,030-1.8%
28Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line Installers$62,460
Postsecondary nondegree award
$41,130 – $86,400-2.2%
29Printing Press Operators$44,580
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,150 – $66,940-2.6%
30Psychiatric Technicians$43,920
Postsecondary nondegree award
$29,940 – $50,770-2.7%
31Construction Laborers$45,820
No formal educational credential
$35,610 – $60,370-2.8%
32Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$45,070
High school diploma or equivalent
$36,140 – $51,620-3.2%
33Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$61,920
Bachelor's degree
$49,220 – $80,500-3.2%
34Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and Advisors$62,060
Master's degree
$44,270 – $82,380-3.5%
35Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$47,200
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,740 – $79,740-3.7%
36Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters$61,430
High school diploma or equivalent
$40,100 – $80,700-3.7%
37Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment$34,480
No formal educational credential
$24,130 – $50,040-3.8%
38Computer Network Support Specialists$73,190
Associate's degree
$51,710 – $111,180-4.0%
39Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and Installers$58,550
Postsecondary nondegree award
$38,800 – $82,940-4.0%
40Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary School$62,430
Bachelor's degree
$51,310 – $79,130-4.1%
41Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers$51,540
High school diploma or equivalent
$38,790 – $63,460-4.1%
42Occupational Health and Safety Specialists$86,260
Bachelor's degree
$58,510 – $126,720-4.3%
43Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders$49,350
High school diploma or equivalent
$35,820 – $60,670-4.4%
44Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians$62,010
Associate's degree
$46,500 – $83,140-4.5%
45First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service Workers$46,400
High school diploma or equivalent
$34,280 – $61,510-4.5%
46Postal Service Mail Carriers$57,700
No formal educational credential
$42,390 – $81,040-4.7%
47Education Administrators, Kindergarten through Secondary$100,790
Master's degree
$75,990 – $136,600-4.8%
48Amusement and Recreation Attendants$30,590
No formal educational credential
$19,890 – $33,640-4.9%
49Physical Therapists$97,710
Doctoral or professional degree
$73,400 – $121,190-4.9%
50Sheet Metal Workers$58,630
High school diploma or equivalent
$45,080 – $78,500-5.1%

Bars run from the 10th to the 90th percentile; the middle half is shaded darker, and the tick is the median.

#	Occupation	MedianAltoona, PA	10th–90th percentilemiddle half shaded darker	vs. national
1	Brickmasons and BlockmasonsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$92,010	$51,790 – $126,660	+48.1%
2	Crossing Guards and FlaggersNo formal educational credential	$52,030	$24,080 – $54,420	+36.6%
3	Personal Financial AdvisorsBachelor's degree	$125,820	$57,480 – $300,870	+19.7%
4	Real Estate Sales AgentsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,910	$38,940 – $95,420	+17.2%
5	Middle School Teachers, Except Special and Career/Technical EducationBachelor's degree	$74,730	$51,080 – $94,410	+16.1%
6	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$57,450	$37,580 – $60,470	+13.3%
7	Educational Instruction and Library Workers, All OtherBachelor's degree	$56,160	$18,210 – $56,160	+10.4%
8	Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and PlasticHigh school diploma or equivalent	$52,080	$38,650 – $52,080	+10.4%
9	Postal Service ClerksNo formal educational credential	$68,540	$61,050 – $75,030	+10.3%
10	Water and Wastewater Treatment Plant and System OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$65,110	$47,590 – $65,110	+8.5%
11	Merchandise Displayers and Window TrimmersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,890	$29,660 – $46,160	+6.3%
12	Physicians, All OtherDoctoral or professional degree	$279,160	$67,680 – $459,510	+5.0%
13	Architectural and Civil DraftersAssociate's degree	$68,230	$45,440 – $90,820	+3.1%
14	Coating, Painting, and Spraying Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,690	$34,740 – $66,500	+3.0%
15	Instructional CoordinatorsMaster's degree	$78,960	$40,150 – $84,270	+2.0%
16	Eligibility Interviewers, Government ProgramsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$55,220	$47,740 – $67,370	+1.9%
17	Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and InvestigatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$78,850	$49,940 – $106,330	+1.1%
18	Substitute Teachers, Short-TermBachelor's degree	$42,060	$25,180 – $42,320	+0.9%
19	Dietitians and NutritionistsBachelor's degree	$76,920	$51,460 – $103,380	+0.7%
20	Data Entry KeyersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$41,600	$31,430 – $51,120	+0.6%
21	Tire Repairers and ChangersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$37,900	$29,340 – $45,600	+0.5%
22	First-Line Supervisors of Construction Trades and Extraction WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$80,220	$53,810 – $114,940	+0.4%
23	Rehabilitation CounselorsMaster's degree	$46,610	$35,720 – $76,940	-0.5%
24	Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except SawingHigh school diploma or equivalent	$43,000	$35,380 – $48,370	-0.9%
25	Coaches and ScoutsBachelor's degree	$46,730	$19,250 – $103,000	-1.2%
26	Radiologic Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$78,700	$52,180 – $92,080	-1.8%
27	Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine OperatorsNo formal educational credential	$57,430	$48,880 – $75,030	-1.8%
28	Telecommunications Equipment Installers and Repairers, Except Line InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$62,460	$41,130 – $86,400	-2.2%
29	Printing Press OperatorsHigh school diploma or equivalent	$44,580	$35,150 – $66,940	-2.6%
30	Psychiatric TechniciansPostsecondary nondegree award	$43,920	$29,940 – $50,770	-2.7%
31	Construction LaborersNo formal educational credential	$45,820	$35,610 – $60,370	-2.8%
32	Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$45,070	$36,140 – $51,620	-3.2%
33	Elementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationBachelor's degree	$61,920	$49,220 – $80,500	-3.2%
34	Educational, Guidance, and Career Counselors and AdvisorsMaster's degree	$62,060	$44,270 – $82,380	-3.5%
35	Mixing and Blending Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$47,200	$35,740 – $79,740	-3.7%
36	Plumbers, Pipefitters, and SteamfittersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$61,430	$40,100 – $80,700	-3.7%
37	Cleaners of Vehicles and EquipmentNo formal educational credential	$34,480	$24,130 – $50,040	-3.8%
38	Computer Network Support SpecialistsAssociate's degree	$73,190	$51,710 – $111,180	-4.0%
39	Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Mechanics and InstallersPostsecondary nondegree award	$58,550	$38,800 – $82,940	-4.0%
40	Special Education Teachers, Kindergarten and Elementary SchoolBachelor's degree	$62,430	$51,310 – $79,130	-4.1%
41	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and BrazersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$51,540	$38,790 – $63,460	-4.1%
42	Occupational Health and Safety SpecialistsBachelor's degree	$86,260	$58,510 – $126,720	-4.3%
43	Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and TendersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$49,350	$35,820 – $60,670	-4.4%
44	Civil Engineering Technologists and TechniciansAssociate's degree	$62,010	$46,500 – $83,140	-4.5%
45	First-Line Supervisors of Personal Service WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$46,400	$34,280 – $61,510	-4.5%
46	Postal Service Mail CarriersNo formal educational credential	$57,700	$42,390 – $81,040	-4.7%
47	Education Administrators, Kindergarten through SecondaryMaster's degree	$100,790	$75,990 – $136,600	-4.8%
48	Amusement and Recreation AttendantsNo formal educational credential	$30,590	$19,890 – $33,640	-4.9%
49	Physical TherapistsDoctoral or professional degree	$97,710	$73,400 – $121,190	-4.9%
50	Sheet Metal WorkersHigh school diploma or equivalent	$58,630	$45,080 – $78,500	-5.1%

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